WHAT HAPPENED: The real question was how Andy Murray’s body—metal hips and all—would hold up after his marathon comeback against Yoshihito Nishioka in the opening round of the 2020 US Open, when he stormed back from two sets down to prevail in a match that kept him on the court for nearly five hours. Especially against a fast-rising 20-year-old like Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian upstart who last year became the youngest member of the Top 25 since Lleyton Hewitt in 1999.
That was answered on Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the 33-year-old Murray, a champion here in 2012, struggled to keep pace with his young challenger, often looking heavy-footed. The toll, it turned out, was too great, and the Scotsman’s feel-good stay was cut short with a straight-sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 defeat.
After consecutive first-round losses to his countryman and close friend Denis Shapovalov in 2018 and 2019, Auger-Aliassime is through to a career-best third-round showing in Flushing Meadows.
"It’s an amazing feeling," said Auger-Aliassime. "I wish the fans were here. Life is funny, because I came here in 2011 as a kid. I got tickets for a match. I watched Andy Murray and [Feliciano] Lopez play in the third round. It's crazy that nine years later I'm here playing him and getting the win."
Auger-Aliassime, the 15th seed, was the aggressor from the start of this first-time matchup between former US Open boys' champions. He held at love to open the contest, capped by a 122 mph ace, and was soon out to a 3-0 advantage.
Murray, a former No. 1 now ranked No. 115, didn't register a single winner through the first seven games. He would finish with just nine.
Auger-Aliassime further frustrated Murray in the second set, leaving the Scot barking at his camp after he was broken in the eighth game. The Montreal native would take a commanding two-set lead with, fittingly, a 125 mph ace, one of 24 on the night.
"In the back of your mind, you know you're facing Andy Murray," said Auger-Aliassime. "Even though you're up two sets to love, you're thinking, 'I've got to get this break. I’ve got to get this lead.' Because you never know what tricks he has in his pocket."
Auger-Aliassime's fourth break of the match came in the fifth game of the final set.
Murray, who has long possessed one of the top return games in tennis, didn't see a break point in the two-hour, seven-minute match.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Canadian will next face the winner of the second-round contest between No. 23 seed Daniel Evans of Great Britian and Corentin Moutet of France, which will be completed Friday. Their match was suspended by rain Thursday evening, with the score at 4-6, 6-3, 6-5, and Evans serving to send the set into a tiebreak.
MATCH POINT: Auger-Aliassime achieved a career-high ranking 13 times in 2019, peaking at No. 17.
